United drops five Canada routes as WestJet ends Kauai flights

United Airlines has ended five nonstop routes between US hubs and Canada, while WestJet has stopped flying to the Hawaiian island of Kauai, according to two Simple Flying reports published on 29 October 2026. The changes affect travellers on routes dropped between September and October 2026 and those who flew WestJet to Lihue in winter.

United's five Canada cuts

Simple Flying reports that the five routes were withdrawn in September and October 2026. It suggests the cuts are likely linked to the trade war between the US and Canada and to subdued transborder demand, though this is the outlet's interpretation rather than a statement from the airline. The routes are:

• Washington Dulles to Calgary (ended September): United was the only operator, and no flights are scheduled for summer 2027.
• Washington Dulles to Halifax (ended September): flown by Republic Airways on an Embraer E175. American Airlines serves Halifax seasonally from Washington National.
• Chicago O'Hare to Edmonton (ended September): United was the sole operator, so passengers must now connect.
• Newark to Vancouver (ended October): still served by Air Canada and JetBlue.
• Los Angeles to Toronto (ended September): Air Canada and Porter Airlines remain.

Citing Cirium data, Simple Flying says United remains the second-largest carrier between the US and Canada, behind Air Canada and ahead of Delta, WestJet and Porter. Its busiest Canada route is Newark to Toronto, with 47 weekly departures this November, followed by Chicago O'Hare to Toronto with 41.

WestJet leaves Kauai

Simple Flying reports that WestJet flew its last scheduled service to Kauai on 12 April 2026 and will not return for winter 2026-27. The airline began flying there in December 2009, operating seasonal Vancouver to Lihue services with Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 737-800 aircraft. Kauai now has no nonstop flights to Canada.

WestJet continues to serve Honolulu, Kahului on Maui and Kona. For winter 2026-27, based on its November schedule, Vancouver has daily Honolulu flights and eight weekly to Maui, with Calgary and Edmonton also serving Hawaii.

Orange County may be next

Simple Flying says WestJet could leave Orange County, California, by the end of March 2027, citing unnamed sources; this is unconfirmed. WestJet currently flies Calgary to John Wayne Airport twice weekly, on Thursdays and Sundays. If it withdrew, Air Canada's daily Vancouver service would be the only nonstop link to Canada. The outlet notes the next schedule update may clarify matters.

The US remains a major market for WestJet, with around 6,325 US flights and more than one million seats scheduled this winter, according to the same report. Phoenix is its busiest US destination.

What this means for travellers

• Anyone booked on a cancelled United route should check their reservation and expect rebooking or a refund; the sources do not detail United's policies.
• Calgary to Washington Dulles, and Edmonton to Chicago O'Hare, no longer have nonstop options on these routes, so connections are needed.
• Newark to Vancouver and Los Angeles to Toronto still have nonstop alternatives with Air Canada, JetBlue or Porter.
• Travellers to Kauai from Canada must connect, for example via the US mainland or another Hawaiian island.
• Those planning to use WestJet to Orange County after March 2027 should watch for confirmation before booking.

Neither report quotes the airlines on their reasons for the changes.

Sources: Simple Flying (United routes); Simple Flying (WestJet).